Multipack

ABSTRACT

In order to provide a marketable, self-supporting multipack for containers which requires only a small quantity of packaging material and which shows the packed contents such as cans and jars open in their entire height, which is easy to handle and which possesses a good inherent stability for the transport of goods from the manufacturer, via the trade, to the consumer, it is proposed to make provision in a multipack for several containers having the same configuration and height for the one-piece cardboard blank (10;12;20), at its corner areas, to be provided with a flap (18,19) each that can be erected at an angle of 90°, that the flaps (18,19) of the cardboard blank (10;12;20) are disposable between two container walls (13a), that the bottom surface areas (11;21) of the carboard blank (10;12;20) are smaller than or equally large as the base of the four or six containers (13, 14), that the bottom surface area (11;12) of the carboard blank (10;12;20) comprises the bottom surface area or at least a part of the bottom surface area of the bottoms of the containers (13,14) and that an encircling band (15) girdling the multipack is disposed at approximately half the height of the container walls (13a) and unites the cardboard blank (10;12;20) with the containers into a sturdy multipack.

A multipack according to the present invention is suitable for an easilyhandled package that can, if necessary, be used for stacking on palletswhich holds a larger number of inherently stable containers of uniformconfiguration and size for transport and storage and which can also beemployed as a sales, display and supply package. It renders possible arapid economical combination of such containers by packaging machines.These may be cans or containers of--in the widest possibleinterpretation--cylindrical shape, and having a circular, elliptical orpolygonal cross-section, or else they may be bottles, which, at least onone part of the height of their outer casing, are of cylindricalconfiguration. A preferred area of application of the invention is thedistribution of beverages in containers for liquids. It is also possibleto combine containers of other media, such as foodstuff preserves,cleaning agents or engine oils in multipacks according to the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention proceeds from a multipack for an even number of four, sixor more cylindrical, square or polygonal containers disposed in twolongitudinal rows standing in a side-by-side arrangement and having thesame shape and size, which is comprised of the containers, a square orrectangular cardboard blank with unfolded flaps and an encircling bandwhich girdles the multipack, in which the bottom areas of the cardboardblanks are smaller than or equally large as the base area of thecontainers disposed side-by-side and comprises the bottom area or atleast a portion of the bottom area of the bottoms of the containers, andin that the encircling band girdling the multipack is disposedapproximately halfway up the height of the container walls and unitesthe cardboard blank together with the containers in such a way as toform a sturdy multipack, and in that, in the bottom wall, at least oneoblong flap formed from the latter with transversally extending fold isprovided which, when folded upwardly at an angle of 90°, forms atransversal web serving to prevent the slipping out of position in thelongitudinal direction of the containers, as is known from the WO85/03274.

From the U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,982, a tray for cakes, candies, fruit orthe like is already known in which, for the formation of partitioned-offcompartments, folds are provided which are formed from the bottom walland extend in the transverse direction and can be folded upwardly at anangle of 90°.

In order to form a number of equally large areas within a cardboard boxit is already known to divide or cut up a blank in such a way that twolongitudinally divided portions from the base portion are mountedtransversally on the latter and interconnected with the aid of a furtherlongitudinally mounted portion, the thusly formed separate beinginsertable into a cardboard box (U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,170).

From the U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,995 it is known to unfold, from a basicblank comprised of a rectangular plate with appended angled portions, aseparator in such a way that, subsequent to inserting the separator intoa cardboard box, compartments having a trapeziform cross-section for theaccommodation of cups or the like are formed.

From the U.S. Pat. No. 2,687,706 it is known to form, from a basicblank, a number of uniform compartments in that, in the blank, elongatedflaps with transversally extending fold are provided which are folded inthe upward direction at an angle of 90° and connected to a number oflongitudinal webs engaging into the same.

The present invention is based on the technical problem of providing amarketable, self-supporting multipack for containers which only requiresa small quantity of packaging material and which shows, openly from theoutside, the packed contents such a cans or jars or bottles in theirfull height, which is easy to handle and which possesses a good inherentstability for the transport of the goods from the manufacturer to theconsumer via the trade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first alternative solution for the above problem consists in that acardboard blank is provided with four flaps at its for corners which canbe folded out at an angle of 90°. The containers are placed on thiscardboard blank with the folded-out flaps in such a way that the flapsare in each case disposed between two container walls. Following this,the containers standing on the cardboard blank are, in a plane parallelto the bottom area, connected to the multipack with the air of at leastone encircling band.

Such a multipack for preferably cylindrical cans or preserve jars onlyrequires an extremely small area of cardboard material for forming theblank, yet nevertheless provides a firm cohesion by means of theencircling band welded under tension which adapts itself to thecontainer configuration. If the containers are provided with a fittedcircumferential groove having the width of the encircling band, thestrength of the multipack is increased and the encircling band isadditionally secured against slipping out of position on the containerwalls.

For identifying the multipack, the bottom surface area of the blank maybe printed over or be provided with labels. The new multipack possessesthe advantages of having a light weight, great economy as well as that alarge portion of the outer surface areas of the individual containerpacked in the multipack is exposed, thus provided the possibility ofaffixing price tickets on the same without that an opening is necessary.The printed-over or labeled containers, such as cans, jars or bottles,remain visible in their full length. The arrangement of the containerson the bottom surface area of the cardboard blank and the position ofthe erected flaps between, in each case, two container walls, securedthe containers against sliding out of position and, together with theencircling band, provides a sturdy transport package. The bottom of thecardboard blank of the multipack can be printed over or be provided withlabels for identification purposes.

A further alternative consists in that the blank fabricated fromcardboard or plastic material, on its two narrow ends, is provided withtwo flaps each that are interconnected by two webs which are folded outat an angle of 90° and the height of which adapts itself to the heightof the cylindrical portion of the containers. The containers aredisposed on the bottom of the blank in such a way that a bottom flapeach is located between four container walls. Subsequently the fourcontainers standing on the blank are, on a plane parallel to the bottomarea, firmly united with the multipack by means of at least oneencircling band.

Such a multipack for preferably six tall cylindrical preserve cans orjars as well as for cylindrical bottles necessitates a relatively smallarea of packaging material for the formation of the multipack, but,notwithstanding this, due to the adapted height of the bottom flapswhich are disposed between the four container walls, it ensures a goodand firm cohesion by means of the ring of encircling band welded underadjustable tension, which is applied around the container walls. If thecontainers are provided in their walls with a circumferential fittedgroove having the width of the encircling band, the strength of themultipack is increased and the encircling band is additionally securedagainst slipping out of position on the container wall.

The bottom surface area of the blank can be printed over or be providedwith labels for identification or marking of the multipack. The newmultipack offers the advantage of a very light weight, great economy aswell as the fact that a large portion of the outer surfaces of thecontainers packed in the multipack are exposed which renders theaffixing of price tickets on them possible without any opening beingneeded for this.

Yet another alternative consists in that the blank fabricated fromcardboard or also plastic material is, on two sides of its bottom area,provided with a strap-like flap each which are unfolded at an angle of90° and remain connected to the bottom area by means of the webs on theouter ends of the bottom flap. The height of the unfolded bottom flapsadapts itself to the height of the cylindrical portion of thecontainers. On at least one longitudinal side of the multipack, a sidewall with notches or slot-like recesses is located which can be foldedout at an angle of 90° relative to the unfolded bottom flaps. On thebottom of the cardboard blank with the unfolded bottom flaps and theside wall, the containers are arranged in such a way that a bottom flapeach is located between four container walls. The notches or slot-likerecesses in the side wall keep the encircling band in position in aplane parallel to the bottom surface and prevent a slipping out ofposition of the band on the side wall and on the container walls. Such amultipack for cans or jars as well as for bottles requires acomparatively small quantity of packing material and, by means of theangular functions of the bottom flaps and the side wall together withthe encircling band, secures the position of the containers on thebottom of the multipack. The encircling band welded under adjustabletension wraps itself around the outer container walls and is thereby ineach case in contact with one fourth of the outer container walls. Thebottom surface area of the cardboard blank covers the bottom area of thecontainers or at least a part of the bottom area and forms a cardboardlayer between the containers when being stacked and palletized. Theexternal visible sides of the bottom and side wall can be printed overor provided with labels for identification or advertising purposes. Thenew multipack possesses the advantage of having a light weight, greateconomy, being automatically erected, filled and encircled with a band,as well as the fact that the containers are exposed on three sides andthe advertising space on one longitudinal side with the possibility ofaffixing price tickets on the individual containers and the removal ofthe containers without having to have recourse to a tool, in which casethe center container on the side wall is removed first. The printed-overor labeled containers, such as cans, jars or bottles, remain visible infull length from the outside. The arrangement of the containers on thebottom area of the cardboard blank and the position of the raised bottomflaps between four container walls at a time secures the containersagainst a sliding out of position and, together with the tension of thering of encircling band, forms a sturdy, self-supporting multipack forbeing transported on pallets or by hand. The bottom of the cardboardmultipack can be printed over or be provided with labels foridentification purposes. The removal of the containers is possiblewithout tools provided that the container in the center between the twobottom flaps and the side wall is removed first.

The essential solution concept in all the embodiments consist in thatthe outer walls ensuring a stable cohesion have been displaced inwardlybetween the containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are depicted in the drawings, thus

FIG. 1 shows the outline of the flat blank for four containers with theslot-like recesses and weakened lines for the formation of the bottomflaps,

FIG. 2 shows the blank according to FIG. 1 with the raised bottom flapsand four cylindrical containers between whose container walls two bottomflaps each are located as well as the encircling band girdling themultipack,

FIG. 3, in a perspective top view, shows the position of the ring ofencircling band in the multipack for four cans according to FIG. 2, inwhich the cardboard blank with the folded-out bottom flaps between thecans is scarcely visible,

FIG. 4 shows the outline of the flat blank for six containers with theslot-like recesses and weakened lines for the formation of the fourflaps.

FIG. 5 shows the same blank as FIG. 4 with the four unfolded flaps andthe arrangement of six cylindrical containers which are each retained byat least one bottom flap in their position on the bottom of the blank,

FIG. 6 shows the same multipack as FIG. 5 with the girdling encirclingband in a perspective view from below,

FIG. 7 shows a cylindrical jar with cover and a circumferential grooveconstructed in the jar wall,

FIG. 8 shows the outline of the flat blank of a multipack for six tallcontainers with two opposite enlarged bottom flaps,

FIG. 9 shows the blank according to FIG. 8 with raised bottom flaps,

FIGS. 10 and 10a show the side elevations of the blank according to FIG.9,

FIG. 11 shows the outline of the flat blank of the multipack for sixcontainers with the slot-like recesses and weakened lines for theformation of the bottom flaps,

FIG. 12 shows the blank according to FIG. 11 from the top withfolded-out bottom flaps and six cylindrical cans between whose walls thebottom flaps are located as well as the encircling band which girdlesthe multipack,

FIG. 13 shows the side elevation of the multipack according to FIG. 12with six tall, cylindrical cans as well as the position of theencircling band,

FIG. 14 shows the outline of the flat blank of the multipack for fourcontainers with the slot like recesses and weakened lines for theformation of the bottom flaps,

FIG. 15 shows the blank according to FIG. 14 from the top with theunfolded bottom flap and four cylindrical cans between whose walls thebottom flap as well as the encircling band girdling the multipack arelocated,

FIG. 16 shows the side elevation of the multipack according to FIG. 15with four tall cylindrical cans and the position of the ring of theencircling band,

FIG. 17 shows the side elevation of a preserve jar with acircumferential groove fitted in its wall,

FIG. 18 shows the outline of a one-piece cardboard blank in which thetwo unfoldable bottom flaps according to FIG. 11 are additionallyprovided with two inwardly foldable tabs each which, subsequent to theinward folding along the weakened lines, form trilateral columns in thecenter parallel to the walls of the bottom flaps. These columns withinthe unfolded bottom flaps rest against the walls of the two containersin the center line and prevent a lateral displacement in the multipackand, at the same time, increase the bending resistance of the bottomflaps,

FIG. 19, in a perspective view, shows the unfolded blank according toFIG. 18 prior to being filled with the cylindrical containers,

FIG. 20, in a top view, shows the cardboard blank according to FIG. 18with the two trilateral columns within the bottom flaps folded out in aU-shaped manner,

FIG. 21, in a top view, shows the multipack filled with six cylindricalcontainers and the position of the trilateral columns between thecontainer walls as well as the encircling band girdling the multipack,

FIG. 22 shows a side elevation of the multipack with six cylindricalcans and the tabs of the trilateral columns resting against the canwalls in the center of the bottom flaps as well as the position of thering formed by the encircling band at approximately half the height ofthe container walls,

FIG. 23 shows a cardboard blank according to FIG. 11 in which the twobottom flaps are provided with a vertical slot in the center of theupper frontal area. After the unfolding of the bottom flaps, atransverse web according to FIG. 24 with two parallel slots is mountedfrom above onto the two bottom flaps at the distance of the bottom flapsfrom each other so that a sturdy compartment is formed which has abottom surface area whose length corresponds to the length of thetransverse web,

FIG. 25 shows a two-piece blank having the shape of a compartmentaccording to FIGS. 23 and 24 in a perspective view,

FIG. 26 shows the top view of a multipack according to FIG. 25 with sixcylindrical containers between whose points of contact one wall each ofthe bottom flaps or of the transverse web is located. The bottom surfacearea of the cardboard blank covers the bottom area of the cylindricalcontainer or at least a part of the bottom area of all cylindricalcontainers in the multipack. The encircling band girdling the packageunites the container and the compartment so as to form the multipack,

FIGS. 27a and 27b shows the side elevation of the multipack according toFIG. 26 with six cans and the position of the transverse web within themultipack as well as the position of the ring formed by the encirclingband,

FIG. 28 shows a wide transverse web which, subsequent to being mountedon the bottom flaps, reaches the bottom of the blank,

FIG. 29 shows the outline of the flat blank of the multipack for sixcontainers with the slot-like recesses and notches for the formation ofthe bottom flaps and the side wall,

FIG. 30 shows the blank according to FIG. 29 in a perspective view withthe unfolded bottom flaps and the folded-out side wall with the notchesfor guiding the ring formed by the encircling band,

FIG. 31 shows the top view of the multipack according to FIG. 30 withsix cylindrical containers from above. Between the container wallsarranged in pairs, a wall each of the bottom flap is located. The sidewall is in contact from the outside with one container each of a row ofcontainers, and

FIG. 32 shows the side elevation of the multipack according to FIG. 31with cylindrical cans and the position of the side wall on the containerwalls as well as the position of the ring formed by the encircling bandon the side wall and the container walls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, the blank is identified with 10 and the bottom of themulti-pack 50 with 11. Weakened lines or transverse folds 16 andslot-like recesses 17 are provided.

In FIG. 2, the bottom flaps are unfolded and are in each case locatedbetween two cylindrical containers 13. The multipack is girdled by theencircling band 15.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the multipack for four cans 13, inwhich the blank 10 is hardly visible close to a can standing on thebottom.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show the multipack for six cans 13, in which thecentral row of cans stands on the widened bottom area 11. Due to thesurface area dimension of the blank 12, length to width at a ratio of3:2 and on account of the enlarged bottom area 11, in this multipack aself-supporting stacking combination exists. For purposes ofidentification, the bottom surface area 11 may be printed over or beprovided with labels. FIG. 7 shows the side elevation of a preserve jar14 with a fitted circumferential groove in the container wall 13a, inwhich 15 indicates the position of the ring formed by the encirclingband.

FIG. 8 shows the outline of a flat blank 20 of a multipack for six tallcontainers such as bottles with two opposite, enlarged L-shaped bottomflaps 19 which meet in the center when being folded out and which form aweb 22 across the length of the blank 20. It is possible to interconnectthe bottom flaps 19 with the aid of adhesive or staples.

FIG. 9 shows the blank with raised bottom flap in a top view.

FIGS. 10 and 10a show the side elevations of the blank according to FIG.9. Provision is made in this case that the two flaps 19 of L-shapedconstruction possess an additional enlarging portion 23 overlapping onelongitudinal side 24 of the cardboard blank 10;12;20, and that theL-shaped flaps 19 have an inserting portion 26 partitioned off by atransverse fold 25.

In FIG. 26, the blank is identified with 110 and the bottom of themultipack 100 for six containers with 111. Weakened lines 116 andslot-like recesses 117 are provided for forming the the bottom flaps 118with the webs, while the bottom flap 119 in the center row serves tolock the containers in position.

In FIG. 12 the bottom flaps 118 according to FIG. 11 are unfolded andlocated between the container walls 113a of the cylindrical cans 113.The encircling band girdling the multipack 100 is identified with 15.

FIG. 13 shows the side elevation of the multipack according to FIG. 12with six tall cylindrical cans, between the container walls of which thebottom flaps prevent a sliding out of position within the pack, and 115indicates the position of the ring formed by the encircling band.Provision is made in this case for an additional bottom flap 119 to bedisposed in the center of the bottom 111 in such a way that the locationof the folded-out flap 119 is between the two container walls in thecenter row and secures the containers against a lateral displacementwithin the multipack.

In FIG. 14 the blank is identified with 110 and 111 identifies thebottom of the multipack for four containers. The weakened lines or foldsare identified with 116 and the slot-like recesses for the formation ofthe bottom flap 118 with the webs with 117.

In FIG. 15, the bottom flap 118 according to FIG. 14 is folded-out andlocated between four container walls of the cylindrical cans 113. 115indicates the girdling encircling band.

FIG. 16 shows the side elevation of the multipack for four tall cansaccording to FIG. 5 and the position of the ring formed by theencircling band 115.

FIG. 17 shows the side elevation of a preserve jar 114 with a fittedcircumferential groove in the container wall, with 115 indicating theposition of the ring formed by the encircling band.

FIG. 18 shows, in the center of the frontal area of the bottom flap 118,two additional inwardly foldable tabs 120 which, subsequent to theinward folding along weakened lines 121, together with the wall of thebottom flap, form a triangular column which, in the upward direction, isterminated by a triangular frontal area 123.

FIG. 19 shows the inward folding of the tabs 120 and the formation ofthe frontal areas 123.

FIG. 20 shows the blank according to FIG. 20 with six cylindricalcontainers 112, the position of the frontal area 123 of the triangularcolumn between the containers in the center row and the encircling band115 girdling the multipack.

FIG. 22 shows the position of the inwardly folded tabs 120 between thecontainer walls.

FIG. 23 shows the cardboard blank according to FIG. 11, in which thebottom flaps 118 in the upper side area are provided in the center witha vertical slot 124.

In FIG. 24, the transverse web 125 with two slots 124 is shown.

FIG. 25, in a perspective view, shows the unfolded blank according toFIG. 23 and the mounted transverse web according to FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 shows the position of the bottom flap walls 118 and of thetransverse web 125 between the container walls from the top and

FIGS. 27a and 27b shows this viewed from the side.

FIG. 27a shows a single band, and FIG. 27b shows plural bands.

FIG. 28 shows a wide transverse web 124 with two slots that is incontact with the bottom areas of the cardboard blank after theinsertion.

FIG. 29 shows the flat cardboard blank 210 with the bottom portion 211,the bottom flaps 218 and the side wall 220. 216 indicates the weakenedlines, 217 the slot-like recesses and 221 the cutouts in the side wall220 intended for guiding the ring formed by the encircling band.

In a perspective view, FIG. 30 shows the blank according to FIG. 29 withthe bottom portion 211, the unfolded bottom flaps 218 and the side wall220 with the cut-outs 221 on the sides.

FIG. 31 shows the blank per FIG. 30 from the top with a six cylindricalcontainers 213, between which the bottom flaps 218 are located. 220indicates the side wall and 215 the encircling band girdling themultipack.

FIG. 32 shows the side elevation of the multipack per FIG. 31 with theside wall 220, the encircling band 215, the bottom portion 211 and thecylindrical cans 213.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multipack for at least six containers ofuniform shape and size disposed in pairs in a side-by-side arrangement,the multipack comprising the containers, a cardboard member forsupporting the containers, the cardboard member being a rectangularcardboard blank, the cardboard member comprising a bottom portion, thecontainers having bottoms, the bottoms of the containers resting atleast partially on the bottom portion, the cardboard member furthercomprising at least two flap portions extending at an angle of 90° tothe bottom portion, the flap portions being disposed between the pairsof containers, each flap portion having two web portions connected tothe bottom portion at outer edges thereof, and a connecting portionconnecting the two web portions, each connecting portion having a slot,a transverse web member having two slots, the two slots of thetransverse web member being inserted in the slots of the connectingportions, and at least one encircling band circumferentially surroundingthe containers.
 2. The multipack according to claim 1, wherein thecontainers and the flap portions each have a height, wherein the heightof the flap portions is equal to the height of the containers.
 3. Themultipack according to claim 1, wherein the containers and the flapportions each have a height, wherein the height of the flap portions issmaller than the height of the containers.
 4. The multipack according toclaim 1, wherein the encircling stand is arranged approximately at halfthe height of the containers.
 5. The multipack according to claim 1,comprising two encircling bands, one of the encircling bands beingarranged in an upper half of the height of the containers and the otherof the encircling bands being arranged in a bottom half of the height ofthe containers.
 6. The multipack according to claim 1, wherein thebottom portion includes an underside, the underside comprising an areafor placing imprints or labels thereon.